Fed Cup final: Czech Rep go 2-0 up against United States

Czech ambitions to claim an 11th title have been dampened with the loss of both Karolina Pliskova (injury) and Petra Kvitova, who is sick but hoping to recover in time for Sunday.

Kvitova has been troubled by high temerature after competing at the WTA Finals in Singapore and did not train this week.

But, propelled by the sold-out O2 Arena with 14,500 fans, the four-time Fed Cup victor regained composure in the second to sweep aside the Russian-born Kenin, who is still in search of her maiden WTA singles title. "I was just enjoying the moment and trying to play my game", Siniakova said. "We're going to decide (that) tomorrow".

"I was pretty nervous but I was able to handle it", she said. No63 Alison Riske makes up the number: She has played just three Fed Cup rubbers, with her only win coming in singles against Andrea Petkovic in the 2017 quarter-finals. It will be an interesting match, ' Czech captain Petr Pala said after training, according to the CTK news agency. "I think the pressure's on them, so it'll be a fun day". "I'm still very confident about my team".

United States captain Kathy Rinaldi said it was a day of missed opportunities for her squad. "We didn't get the result that we wanted but nobody can say that we didn't leave all out there". Top of the pile is the US with 18, next comes the Czech Republic with 10-five of them as Czechoslovakia.

The US have dominated the Czechs in Fed Cup play and hold a 10-2 record against their final opponents.

Barbora Strycova and Katerina Siniakova won their singles for the Czech Republic to take a commanding 2-0 over the defending champion United States in the Fed Cup final on Saturday. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".

"I'm really looking forward to it", Riske said. "The worst", said an emotional Siniakova. "Katka kept the lead and suddenly she was facing two match points".

Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova are then scheduled to face Danielle Collins and the Czech-born Nicole Melichar in the final doubles rubber.

The Czechs have never beaten the Americans in the Fed Cup as an independent nation.

The USA can take comfort in their record against their opponents, having not lost to the Czechs in eight meetings dating back to 1985, while they are on a seven-match winning streak after beating Belarus in the final past year.

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